Use A Stamp ~ Simon Says Stamp Stamptember Blog Hop

Hey everyone and welcome to a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week, we are having a STAMPtember Blog Hop and the challenge is all about ~ USE A STAMP!

You should have arrived here from my very talented teamie Cheiron but if not then you will need to go to the Simon Says Stamp Store Blog to start from the beginning and I hope you'll join us and play along because it's definitely going to be a fun week...

You must create a project using a rubber or clear stamp, no digi images allowed, add your creation to the linky AND hop around the designers blogs leaving comments along the way. 

We are showcasing the new STAMPtember® products that have just been released. CLICK HERE to see them all. It is a HUGE release with loads of fabulous stamps, dies, stencils and much more!

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

So, now it's time to share my project and as always, I hope you love the set of three cards that I made this week, using the awesome Tim Holtz Exclusive STAMPtember 2015 Cling Stamp set.

The process behind each card is exactly the same but I love how different each individual card looks ... from masculine to teenage to a frivolous birthday card ~ there really is an image that will suit everyone and this set is a must have!!

To begin with, I created my larger card blanks and for this I used kraft card and cut two pieces to measure 15 x 18cm. I then ran each of the pieces of card through my die cutting machine using the On The Edge Star Cluster die which gave me a decorative top to my card. I attached another piece of kraft card to the back of each decorative card front and I scored these pieces 2.5cm from the top, which gives me an easel section so that the card is freestanding. For the smaller "Taking Time To Say Hello" notecard, I used the Postage Frame die to die cut corrugated card and again, added a piece of scored kraft card to the back to allow the card to stand up.

To create the backgrounds for each of the larger cards, I cut a panel of corrugated card, added Distress Paint to the surface to create a more shabby, distressed feel and then matted them onto ivory card stock before mounting them onto the front of my card blanks.

For the layered stars on the top of the "Today Is A Good Day" card, I used the Crescent Moon and Stars die to die cut corrugated card which I painted with Cracked Pistachio, Picket Fence and Black Soot Distress Paint and added to the decorative top section of the card. For the "Best Wishes for Your Birthday" card, I used the same die to die cut silver Deco Sheets and then layered some with corrugated die cut stars.

Now for stamping and for this I used Jet Black Archival Ink to stamp the images from the stamp set onto watercolour card and watercolored each one with Distress Marker Pens.

I added a few flicks of ink around each of the stamped images, then inked the edges of each piece of card using Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. Finally I machine stitched each panel before mounting them onto Core'dinations card. You'll also notice that I added a corrugated wrap and a mirrored star to the cup, for that authentic "coffee house" paper cup!

For the next stage, I needed to create the backgrounds for my painted panels and for the first card, I used the Postage Stamp die to die cut a piece of card which I then embossed with the Mesh Texture Fade before inking the surface to bring out the embossed area.

For the second card, I used the postage stamp frame die to die cut a piece of card which I then stamped with Buttercup Archival Ink using the Zig Zag Background stamp.

I matted my panels onto the backgrounds and mounted them onto my card fronts with foam pads.

To complete the cards, I added a shabby crinkle ribbon bow, which I dyed with Broken China Distress Spray Stain, an antique button and a few sequins to the Birthday card...

...and a linen bow and heart charm to the second card, which completes the larger cards.

The small notecard is made in exactly the same way but because I wanted just a notelet size, I didn't add it to a larger background.

I did however layer my clock image to create dimension....

...and added a typed token charm, altered with Distress Paint and clipped this onto the side of the card using a Hinge Clip and some twine.

 So, that completes my set of three all occasion cards and I hope you enjoyed reading how I made them!

The next person on the hop is the lovely Maura

So now it's YOUR turn to get out your inks, paints and all things arty and start creating! We are looking forward to seeing what you make!

Each DT member also has a Simon's Goody Bag to give away too! All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post AND enter the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge 

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too!

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out

You have until Monday  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

Products used:

Tim Holtz Dies: Postage Stamp, On The Edge Star Cluster, Crescent Moon and Stars

Tim Holtz Texture Fade: Mesh

Tim Holtz Stamps: Tim Holtz Exclusive STAMPtember 2015 Cling Stamp set, Zig Zag

Distress Spray Stain: Broken China

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Picket Fence, Ground Espresso, Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap

Mediums: Distress Marker Pens, Jet Black Archival Ink, Buttercup Archival Ink

Idea-ology: Typed Token, Hinge Clip, Heart Charm, Crinkle Ribbon, Linen Ribbon, Mirrored Stars

Embellishments: Moonshine Sequins

Surfaces: White Card, Kraft Card, Kraft Core Core'Dinations Card, Deco Sheets, Textured Surfaces

Ranger Craft Sheet

Water Brush

Mini blending Tool

Heat Gun

Big Shot